Collapsible single-blank carton having a telescopic closure



July 4, 1967 H T 3,329,346

COLLAPSIBLE SINGLE-BLANK CARTON HAVING A TELESCOPIC CLOSURE Filed June 22, 1965 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 v 23 v 3 40 1 a 5/ K I: 24' INVENTOR.

July 4, 1967 c, g. KEWH 3,329,346

COLLAPSIBLE SINGLE-BLANK CARTON HAVING A TELESCOPIC CLOSURE Filed June 22, 1965 4 Sheets-Sheet INVENTOR. '(Z/FFOPO M KEITH July 4, 1967 C. H. KEITH COLLAPSIBLE SINGLEBLANK CARTON HAVING A TELESCOPIC CLOSURE Filed June 22, 1965 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Jig; l

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United States Patent 3,329,346 COLLAPSIBLE SINGLE-BLANK CARTON HAVING A TELESCOPIC CLOSURE Clitford H. Keith, Cincinnati, Ohio, assignor to The Mead Corporation, Dayton, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Filed June 22, 1965, Ser. No. 466,019 4 Claims. (Cl. 229-37) The present invention relates to a collapsible singleblank carton having a telescopic closure.

Generally, there is provided a single rectangular diecut and scored blank of corrugated paperboard having two parallel spaced rows of edge-joined panels connected at their ends by strips of adhesive tape. One row of panels defines the side and end walls of the carton. The other row, when folded outwardly and downwardly, defines a telescopically movable outer wall portion serving as the operator for automatically interengaging closure flaps provided by cut and scored panels integrally connected to the upper edges of the carton walls and of the downturned telescopic closure operator. The closure panels connected to the end walls are horizontally centrally scored and have V-shaped notches in their ends for interlocking reception of the folded edges of the closure panels connected to the side walls and the latter closure panels have flaps cut from their lower medial halves to extend inwardly to complete a non-sealed closure that can be quickly and easily closed and reopened and reclosed for inspection or removal of portions of the contents, such as farm produce.

Four bottom closure flaps are integrally placed along scored fold lines to the lower edges of the side and end wall panels. In accordance with one embodiment of the invention, the longitudinally extending bottom closure flaps are reinforced. The carton is desirably shipped and stored in knocked down flap packing condition and is easily set up merely by squaring the carton, and by folding and gluing, taping and/ or stapling the bottom closure panels in place. The carton is then ready for filling to the upper edges of the side and wall panels. The upper portions of the side and end wall panels are desirably slightly offset inwardly for snug mating with the cooperating telescopic closure operator.

It is, accordingly, a principal object of the present invention to provide a single-blank carton having interleaving closure flaps operated by a circumferentially continuous row of panels telescopically engaging over the upper portions of the side and end walls of the carton.

It is another object of the invention to provide a carton of the character set forth having conventional folding bottom closure panels whereby the carton can be shipped in flattened knocked down condition and can be set up by unskilled labor in a matter of several seconds.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a carton of the type disclosed in which the closure panels automatically interlock as the telescopic operator is manually depressed, the closure being capable of repeated opening and closing for inspection or removal of portions of the contents.

Other and further objects of the invention will become apparent from a reading of the following specification, taken in conjunction with the drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a plan elevational view of the die-cut and scored blank;

FIGURE 2 is a view similar to FIGURE 1, showing the telescopic operator row of panels folded outwardly and downwardly over the closure panels and the bottom closure panels inturned;

FIGURE 3 is an end view along line 3-3 of FIG- URE 2;

FIGURE 4 is a perspective View of a carton set up and ready for filling;

FIGURE 5 is a perspective view showing the closure panels in their half closed positions;

FIGURE 6 is a perspective view of the fully closed carton;

FIGURE 7 is a perspective view of a carton with the closure portions omitted;

FIGURE 8 is a perspective view of the closed carton inverted;

FIGURE 9 is an elevational view, in section, taken on line 9-9 of FIGURE 4;

FIGURE 10 is an elevational view, in section, taken on line 10-10 of FIGURE 5;

FIGURE 11 is an elevational view, in section, taken on line 1111 of FIGURE 6;

FIGURE 12 is a plan elevational view of a die-cut and scored blank in accordance with another embodiment of the invention;

FIGURE 13 is a view similar to FIGURE 12 showing the lowermost row of panels folded outwardly and upwardly around the lower portion of the lower sub row of the side and end wall panels; and showing the telescopic operator row of panels folded outwardly and downwardly over the closure panels;

FIGURE 14 is an end sectional view along line 14-14 of FIGURE 13; and

FIGURE 15 is a perspective view of the closed carton of FIGURES 12-14 in an inverted position.

When reference to the drawings, number 20 generally designates a unitary blank from which the carton, generally designated 21, is formed. The blank is divided by horizontal scored fold lines 22, 23, 24 into four rows of panels 25, 26, 27, 28.

The row of panels 27 is divided into upper and lower subrows by an offsetting deformation designated 29. The lower subrow consists of edge-joined panels 30, 31, 32, 33 divided by vertical scored fold lines 34, 35, 36. Panels 30 and 32 and panels 31 and 33 form the lower portions of the circumferentially continuous side and end walls, respectively, of carton 21.

Panels 37, 38, 39, 40 of the upper subrow of panel row 27 form the upper portions of the side and end walls of carton 21. Said latter panels are separated from each other by slots 41 which permit the inward offsetting of upper wall panels 37-40 from lower end panels 30-33 by an amount approximating the thickness of the blank material to permit telescoping thereover of the closure operator next to be described.

Panel row 25, consisting of edge-joined panels 42, 43, 44, 45 defined by upward extensions of'fold lines 34, 35, 36, when joined at its end by a strip of adhesive tape 46, FIGURE 5, provides a telescopic operator for the closure panels hereinafter described. The telescopic closure operator slides vertically snugly over upper wall panels 37-40. A second strip of adhesive tape 47 circumferentially continuously joins the ends of the subrow of panels 30-33, FIGURES 5-8.

The row of panels 28 provides conventional bottom closure panels 48, 49, 50, 51 integrally hingedly joined to the panels of row 27 along scored fold line 24, and are foldable in known manner after the carton is squared during setting up thereof. Panels 48-51 are fastened to each other by gluing, taping and/or stapling the overlapped portions thereof together, in known manner.

Panel row 26 provides the novel telescopically operated automatic closure of the present disclosure, and consists of two side connected panels 52 and two end connected panels 53. Panels 53 are foldable about central longitudinal fold lines 54 and are inwardly notched at 55. Notches 55 provide guiding and locking sockets into which the folded edges of the side closure panels 52 fit,

as will hereinafter appear.

Side closure panels 52 have central longitudinal fold 3 lines 56 and die-cut flaps 57 which lift up out of the lower portions of panels 52 as the closure is closed, FIGURE 5. Diagonal cuts 58 define notches which interlock with the bottoms of V-notches 55 in end closure panels 53.

Carton 21 is preferably partly assembled at the factory by first folding the closure operator panel row 25 down over the outer surfaces of closure panel row 26, FIG- URE 2. Then, the end groups of panels are folded toward each other to overlie the two central groups. The abutting ends of rows 25, 27 are then joined by adhesive tape strips 46, 47 and the knocked down carton is packed fiat for shipping and storage.

The knocked down carton can be set up by unskilled labor in several seconds, by squaring, and by overlapping the bottom panels and interconnecting the latter in conventional manner. The carton is now ready for filling.

After filling the carton, downward force on the rim of the closure operator formed by panel row 25 causes automatic interleaving and closing of closure panels 52 and 53, as progressively illustrated by FIGURES 4, 5, 6.

Referring to FIGURES 12-15 inclusive in which an alternative embodiment of the invention is illustrated, like parts bear like numerals and are identical in structure and in function except as may be indicated in the description which follows.

In the embodiment shown in FIGURES 12l5, panels 48, 50 are like those previously described in connection with FIGURES 1ll except that panels 48, 50, in the embodiments illustrated in FIGURES 1215, have connected thereto along their bottom edges an additional row 60 which includes panels 61, 62, 63 and 64 foldably connected to panels 48, 50 along fold lines 65, 66. Score lines 67, 68, 69 are disposed between panels 61, 62 and 62,63 and 63, 64, respectively.

Panels 49, 51 are foldably connected to panels 31, 33, respectively, along line 24. And panels 49, 51 are separated from the remainder of the blank by die-cuts 70, 71, 72 and by 75, 76, respectively. Additionally, in the embodiment illustrated in FIGURES 12l5, an opening 77 is provided centrally disposed Within panel 42, and a similar opening 78 is provided and is similarly disposed within panel 44 for a purpose which will appear as the description proceeds.

As noted above in connection with embodiment of FIGURES 1-11, the carton is preferably partly assembled at the factory by first folding closure operator panel row 25 down over the outer surface of closure panel row 28 as is illustrated in FIGURE 2. Then the end groups of panels are folded toward each other to overlie the two central groups. The abutting ends of rows 25, 27 are then joined by adhesive tape strips 46, 47 and the knocked down carton is packed fiat for shipping and storage. Additionally, in the embodiment shown in FIGURES 12-15, the lower row 60 is folded upwardly to overlie the lower portions of panel row 28 and, after the end groups of panels have been folded toward each other, as noted above, and prior to the joining of the abutting ends of rows 25, 27 by adhesive tape strips 46, 47, the abutting ends of row 60 and the overlapped portion of row 28 are similarly joined together by adhesive tape and the knocked down carton is packed flat for shipping and storage.

In this embodiment, the knocked down carton also can be set up by unskilled labor merely by squaring and by overlapping the bottom panels and interconnecting the latter in conventional manner.

After setting up the carton and placing desired contents therein, top closure of the carton is effected in the manner previously described in connection with the embodiment illustrated in FIGURES 1-11 and as particularly shown by FIGURES 4, and 6. Additionally, with the present embodiment, openings 77, 78 provide finger or hand openings thus providing for automatic inward deflection of flaps 57 as a result of finger or hand pressure during closure.

While but two forms of the invention have been shown and described herein, it will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art that many minor modifications may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A collapsible single-blank carton, comprising: a first row of panels, the intermediate panels thereof being integrally interconnected at their end edges to adjacent panels along scored fold lines, a second row of panels, the intermediate panels of said second row being integrally interconnected at their end edges along scored fold lines, a third row of bottom closure panels each integrally connected along one edge thereof to a lower edge of a corresponding panel of said first row of panels and foldable inwardly into partial overlapping bottom closing positions, said first and second row of panels being substantially parallel and horizontally coextensive, a fourth row of panels interconnecting adjacent horizontal edges of the panels of said first and second rows along scored fold lines, said second row of panels being folded down over the outside of said fourth row of panels, the free ends of said first row of panels being interconnected by flexible hinge means to define circumferentially continuous side and end walls of said carton, the free ends of said second row of panels being interconnected by flexible hinge means to define a circumferentially continuous rectangular band telescopically engageable over the upper portions of the panels of said first row, the panels of said fourth row interconnecting the carton endforming panels of said first and second rows being centrally horizontally scored for inward double folding thereof by telescopic downward movement of said rectangular band, the panels of said fourth row interconnecting the carton side-forming panels of said first and second rows being horizontally scored at their ends for double folding of said ends into deep V-shaped notches cut into the ends of said first-mentioned double-folding panels, said panels of said fourth row being separated by vertical slots wherein the fourth row may be inwardly offset from the first row, the lower medial portions of said second mentioned double folding panels having elongated flaps cut therefrom to provide inwardly extending closure part panels rigidly coplanar with the upper portions of said second-mentioned double-folding panels.

2. A carton according to claim 1, the upper portions of the panels of said first row being inwardly offset by a distance approximating the thickness of the carton blank to permit said rectangular band to lie with its surfaces substantially in the planes of the surfaces of the lower portions of the panels of said first row.

3. A collapsible single-blank carton comprising five substantially parallel and coextensive rows of panels with the intermediate panels of the first, third and fifth rows being integrally connected at their end edges to adjacent panels along first scored fold lines, the sec-0nd row of panels interconnecting adjacent edges of panels of said first, second and third rows along second scored fold lines substantially perpendicular to said first lines, the fourth row having spaced apart intermediate panels thereof interconnecting adjacent edges of said third, fourth and fifth rows along third scored fold lines substantially parallel to said second lines, means hingedly interconnecting the free ends of said third row of panels to define continuous side and end walls of said carton, said first row of panels being folded over the outside of said second row of panels and along said second line between said first and second rows, means hingedly interconnecting the free ends of said first row to define a band surrounding said second row and in telescopic engagement with portions thereof, the panels of said second row interconnecting the carton end-forming panels of said first and third rows being centrally horizontally scored for inward double folding thereof by telescopic downward movement of said band, and the panels of said second row interconnecting the cart-on side-forming panels of said first and third rows being horizontally scored at their ends for double folding-{of said ends into V-shaped notches cut into the ends of said first-mentioned double folding panels, said fifth row of panels being folded over said fourth TOW of panels and along said third line there'between and said spaced apart panels being horizontally scored and folded to define oppositely disposed reinforced bottorn panels, and means hingedly interconnecting the free ends of said fifth row to define a reinforcing band surrounding portions of said fourth row of panels, the lower medial portions of said second mentioned double folding panels having elongated flaps cut therefrom toprovide inwardly extending closure part panels rigidly coplanar with the upper portions of said second-mentioned double folding panels.

4. Product in accordance with claim 3 wherein the intermediate panels of said first row adjacent said flapcontaining panels are each provided with an opening in the central portion thereof.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS JOSEPH R. LECLAIR, Primary Examiner. DAVIS T. MOORHEAD, Examiner. 

1. A COLLAPSIBLE SINGLE-BLANK CARTON, COMPRISING: A FIRST ROW OF PANELS, THE INTERMEDEIATE PANELS THEREOF BEING INTEGRALLY INTERCONNECTED AT THEIR END EDGES TO ADJACENT PANELS ALONG SCORED FOLD LINES, A SECOND ROW OF PANELS, THE INTERMEDIATE PANELS OF SAID SECOND ROW BEING INTEGRALLY INTERCONNECTED AT THEIR END EDGES ALONG SCORED FOLD LINES, A THIRD ROW OF BOTTOM CLOSURE PANELS EACH INTEGRALLY CONNECTED ALONG ONE EDGE THEREOF TO A LOWER EDGE OF A CORRESPONDING PANEL OF SAID FIRST ROW OF PANELS AND FOLDABLE INWARDLY INTO PARTIAL OVERLAPPING BOTTOM CLOSING POSITIONS, SAID FIRST AND SECOND ROW OF PANELS BEING SUBSTANTIALLY PARALLEL AND HORIZONTALLY COEXTENSIVE, A FOURTH ROW OF PANELS INTERCONNECTING ADJACENT HORIZONTAL EDGES OF THE PANELS OF SAID FIRST AND SECOND ROWS ALONG SCORED FOLD LINES, SAID SECOND ROW OF PANELS BEING FOLDED DOWN OVER THE OUTSIDE OF SAID FOURTH ROW OF PANELS, THE FREE ENDS OF SAID FIRST ROW OF PANELS BEING INTERCONNECTED BY FLEXIBLE HINGE MEANS TO DEFINE CIRCUMFERENTIALLY CONTINUOUS SIDE SND END WALLS OF SAID CARTON, THE FREE ENDS OF SAID SECOND ROW OF PANELS BEING INTERCONNECTED BY FLEXIBLE HING MEANS TO DEFINE A CIRCUMFERENTIALLY CONTINUOUS RECTANGULAR BAND TELESCOPICALLY ENGAGEABLE OVER THE UPPER PORTIONS OF THE PANELS OF SAID FIRST ROW, THE PANELS OF SAID FOURTH ROW INTERCONNECTING THE CARTON ENDFORMING PANELS OF SAID FIRST AND SECOND ROWS BEING CENTRALLY HORIZONTALLY SCORED FOR INWARD DOUBLE FOLDING THEREOF BY TELESCOPIC DOWNWARD MOVEMENT OF SAID RECTANGULAR BAND, THE PANELS OF SAID FOURTH ROW INTERCONNECTING THE CARTON SIDE-FORMING PANELS OF SAID FIRST AND SECOND ROWS BEING HORIZONTALLY SCORED AT THEIR ENDS FOR DOUBLE FOLDING OF SAID ENDS INTO DEEP V-SHAPED NOTCHES CUT INTO THE ENDS OF SAID FIRST-MENTIONED DOUBLE-FOLDING PANELS, SAID PANELS OF SAID FOURTH ROW BEING SEPARATED BY VERTICAL SLOTS WHEREIN THE FOURTH ROW MAY BE INWARDLY OFFSET FROM THE FIRST ROW, THE LOWER MEDIAL PORTIONS OF SAID SECOND MENTIONED DOUBLE FOLDING PANELS HAVING ELONGATED FLAPS CUT THEREFROM TO PROVIDE INWARDLY EXTENDING CLOSURE PART PANELS RIGIDLY COPLANAR WITH THE UPPER PORTIONS OF SAID SECOND-MENTIONED DOUBLE-FOLDING PANELS. 